Racing Demon

Racing Demon is one of the few patience games played by two people. Each player gets 52 cards in this patience, i.e. a simple card set.

# Layout

Each player lays out four cards vertically one below the other from their stock, leaving space in the center (see graphic). Now each player places 13 cards from the stock face-down on a helper pile and then turns over the top card. The player with the highest value of this turned card may then start the game.

# Objective

The player who first brings all their 52 cards into the tableau through successful placing, moving and playing up has won Racing Demon. The general goal of the patience is ascending same-suit building from Ace to King.

# Gameplay

All cards in the tableau are eligible for play for each player, but not the stock, the helper pile and the opponent’s pile that is created later. In the center is space for a total of eight Aces. So the first player checks at the beginning whether there is perhaps already an Ace in the vertical rows and places it there. Then ascending subsequent cards in the same suit are placed on it. Playing up is the most important thing in this patience and always takes precedence over placing. Then the player can check whether they can use their top card from the helper pile by playing up or placing horizontally. Moving individual cards is allowed in descending order with alternating colors. Flutes may not be moved. These can only be moved through empty rows. Further cards from the helper pile may then also be placed in empty rows.

If nothing can be moved anymore, the player may turn over a card from the stock at the end of their turn and check whether this can be played up or placed. If not, you may annoy your opponent by placing the top card of their helper pile or the turned card from the stock on the opponent’s helper pile in the same suit either ascending or descending, if possible. This gives the opponent another card they must get rid of.

A player’s turn is over as soon as the turned card from the stock cannot be used. Then it is placed face-up on a new pile, which you may go through unlimited times. Then it’s the other player’s turn.

The patience is over when a player has completely used up their helper pile, stock and pile and placed them in the tableau.

# Other names

• Spite and Malice
• Russian Bank

# Summary

• Each player has a set of 52 cards and lays out four cards from their stock vertically one below the other, in the center leave space for eight Aces
• Each places 13 cards face-down on their own helper pile and turns over the top card, the player with the highest value begins
• The first player checks whether an Ace and possible subsequent cards can be played up to the center, but only from the tableau and their own piles, never from the opponent’s pile
• Moving individual cards is allowed in descending order with alternating colors, flutes may not be moved
• Empty rows can be filled with any card, also from the helper pile
• If nothing works, the player turns over the top card of their stock and if it doesn’t fit, the next player’s turn begins
• The card from the stock then goes on a new pile, which you can go through unlimited times
• Annoy opponent: at the end of the turn, the card from the stock or from the helper pile can be placed on the opponent’s helper pile if it fits ascending or descending in the same suit
• Objective: completely use up helper pile and stock